Biophysical chemistry, protein structure/function, time-resolved optical spectroscopy. We are interested in time-resolved conformational changes and thermodynamics associated with ligand binding to heme proteins, biological electron transfer, protein folding and bacterial signal transduction. We utilize both traditional time resolved optical spectroscopies (nanosecond transient absorption/fluorescence) together with novel photothermal methods (photoacoustic calorimetry and photothermal beam deflection).